ENVS Courses - Environment and Society

ENVS Courses

ENVS 1990

Professional Orientation for Environment and Society - 2 credits
Introduces new students to university scholarship and citizenship, careers in environmental and natural resources science and management, development of leadership and team skills, and analysis of issues relating to the diverse relationships between society and the natural environment.
Semesters (s) Taught: F
Syllabi: Fall 2012 (Brunson), past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies, Recreation Resource Management

ENVS 2250

Introductory Internship/Co-op - 1-3® credits
Introductory-level educational experience in internship/cooperative education position approved by department. Prerequisite: Permission of department.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su
Instructor: (Brunson)

ENVS 2340 BSS

Natural Resources and Society - 3 credits
Examines human values, uses, and management of natural settings at the individual, community, and societal levels. Topics include: psychological responses to nature, history of U.S. park and natural resource management, environmental sociology and politics, and nature in non-Western cultures.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp ^DE
Syllabus: Fall 2012 (on campus distance), past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies, Geography (Human-Environment Geography emphasis elective option, Geographical Analysis and Bioregional Planning elective option), Recreation Resource Management

ENVS 3010

Fundamentals of Natural Resource and Environmental Policy - 3 credits
Examines policy-making for natural resources management and environmental protection, focusing on how issues are addressed among different stakeholders. Topics include policy development, policymaking, participants, and policy instruments. Analyses of specific laws and regulations demonstrate the importance and complexity of policymaking.
Semester(s) Taught: F
Syllabus: Fall 2012 (Burnham), past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Conservation and Restoration Ecology, Environmental Studies, Forestry, Geography (Human-Environment Geography emphasis elective option, Geographical Analysis and Bioregional Planning elective option, Physical Geography emphasis elective option), Rangeland Resources, Recreation Resource Management, Wildlife Science

ENVS 3300

Fundamentals of Recreation Resources Management - 3 credits
Principles of wildland recreation management including: characteristics of recreation use and users, introduction to planning concepts, management of wildland recreation facilities and infrastructure, and integration with other natural resource uses.
Semester(s) Taught: F ^DESyllabus: (), past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Forestry, Recreation Resource Management

ENVS 3330

Environment and Society - 3 credits
Emphasizes how human actions modify the physical environment and how physical systems affect human systems and the changes occurring in the meaning, use, and importance of resources at a global and regional scale.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2013 (Coppock), past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies, Geography

ENVS 3500 QI

Quantitative Assessment of Environmental and Natural Resource Problems - 3 credits
Overview of analytical and sampling methods used for collecting, organizing, and interpreting numeric data to evaluate problems and monitor conditions relating to relationships between environment and society. Prerequisites: STAT 2000 or 3000; MATH 1050; and passing score on the Computer and Information Literacy (CIL) Exam.
Semester(s) Taught: F
Syllabus: Fall 2013 (Romesburg), past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies, Geography (Human-Environment Geography emphasis elective option, Geographical Analysis and Planning emphasis elective option), Recreation Resource Management

ENVS 3600 DSC

Living with Wildlife - 3 credits
Reviews history and development of wildlife management programs in the United States. Explores diversity of attitudes toward wildlife, which affect development and evolution of wildlife management programs. Development and analysis of case histories of contemporary and controversial wildlife management decisions.
Semester(s): Sp ^DE
Syllabus: Spring 2013 (King), past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies (as an animal course option), Geography (Human-Environment Geography emphasis elective option), Recreation Resource Management

ENVS 4000 DSS

Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management - 3 credits
Focuses on balancing science and social values in ecosystem management and decision-making. Topics include environmental justice, communication and behavior change strategies, landscape perception and attitudes, resource- dependent communities, public involvement, and conflict management.
Semester(s) Taught: F ^DE
Syllabus: Fall 2012 (D'Antonio), past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Conservation and Restoration Ecology, Environmental Studies, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Forestry, Geography (Human-Environment emphasis elective option, Geographical Analysis and Bioregional Planning emphasis elective option), Rangeland Resources, Recreation Resource Management, Watershed and Earth Systems, Wildlife Science

ENVS 4110 (dual listing 6110)

Fisheries and Wildlife Policy and Administration*
Examination of policy issues and administrative approaches in fish and wildlife management, with particular emphasis on non-biological issues facing wildlife managers and administrators.
Semester(s) Taught: F
Syllabus: (instructor)

ENVS 4130

Recreation Policy and Planning - 3 credits
Examines the historical, legal, and political context of outdoor recreation policy on public lands; government agency culture, regulation, and partnering; relationship of outdoor recreation to tourism; and theory and application of principal planning tools for outdoor recreation settings.
Semester(s) Taught: (Sp) DE
Syllabus: Spring 2012 (Burr) past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies (as a policy course option, Environmental Policy emphasis, Planning and Analysis emphasis), Geography (Geographical Analysis and Bioregional Planning emphasis), Recreation Resource Management

ENVS 4250

Advanced Internship/Co-op - 1-9® credits
Directed and evaluated cooperative education or work experience for undergraduates in public and private organizations. Prerequisite: Permission of department.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su
Instructor: (Brunson)

ENVS 4440 (dual listing 6440)

Stegner Center Annual Symposium - 1® credit
Offered through the University of Utah College of Law. Topics vary each year, but always focus on natural resource policy-related issues.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2010 (instructor)

ENVS 4500 CI

Wildland Recreation Behavior - 3 credits
Social, psychological, and geographic influences on human behaviors in wildland recreation settings. Emphasis on critical problems affecting public land recreation management.
Semester(s) Taught: F
Syllabus: Spring 2012 (Ceurvorst) past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Geography (Human-Environment emphasis elective option), Recreation Resource Management

ENVS 4600

Natural Resource Interpretation - 3 credits
Planning processes and techniques for providing interpretive programs developed for wildland recreation areas and visitor centers. Evaluation and planning of visitor information efforts.
Semester(s) Taught: F
Syllabus: Spring 2012 (Ceurvorst) past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies (Communications emphasis), Recreation Resource Management

ENVS 4700

Communicating Sustainability - 3 credits
Explores theoretical foundations and methods for using education and communication strategies to encourage adoption of sustainable behaviors. Students work with various stakeholders and the public in formal and non-formal settings to develop programs with goals relating to sustainability.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2013 (Brain)

ENVS 4920

Special Projects in Recreation Management - 1-3® credits
Participation in special projects to assist public recreation agencies or nonprofit organizations, while gaining hands-on experience in recreation management, planning, and monitoring. Many experiences entail intensive, short-duration efforts away from campus. Prerequisite: Permission of department.
Semester(s): F,Sp,Su
Syllabus: (LS1) (Brunson)
NR Majors requiring this course: Recreation Resource Management

ENVS 4950

Special Topics - 1-3® credits
Individual study and research upon selected environmental and societal problems. Prerequisite: Permission of department.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su ^DE
Syllabus: Schmidt (Service Learning Practicum)

ENVS 4960

Directed Readings - 1-3® credits
Individual reading research on selected environmental and societal readings. Prerequisite: Permission of department.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su
Instructor: (Brunson)

ENVS 4970

Undergraduate Research - 1-3® credits
Individual or team research. Prerequisite: Permission of department.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su
Instructor: (Brunson)

ENVS 4980

Undergraduate Seminar - 1 credit
Intended to bring upperclassmen up-to-date on environmental and societal topics. Graded Pass/Fail only.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Instructor: (Brunson)

ENVS 5000

Collaborative Problem-Solving for Environmental and Natural Resources - 3 credits
Project-based capstone course for environmental studies majors. Students work in teams to develop plans and alternative solutions relevant to actual issues or land areas, integrating knowledge from a range of environmental and natural resource disciplines. Prerequisites: Senior standing; ENVS 3000, 4000.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2013 (Brunson) past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies, Recreation Resource Management

ENVS 5110

Environmental Education - 3 credits
Covers teaching about the environment, and using the environment and the natural world to teach other subjects, with a strong emphasis on participation and on practicing teaching techniques.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies (Communications emphasis), Geography (Human-Environment Geography emphasis elective option), Recreation Resource Management

ENVS 5300

Natural Resources Law and Policy* - 2 credits
Legal and administrative regulation of forests and associated resources (water, air, fish, wildlife, and scenery). Emphasis on agency organizational culture, federal legislation, court cases, administrative procedures, and federal natural resources agencies’ interactions with tribal, state, and local governments.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2010 (instructor)
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies (Environmental Policy emphasis), Geography, (Geographical Analysis and Bioregional Planning emphasis elective option)

ENVS 5320

Water Law and Policy in the United States - 3 credits
Introduction to policies, laws, institutions, and practices guiding western water allocation, emphasizing how to efficiently and equitably allocate increasingly scarce supplies. Explores reserved water rights, water markets, stream adjudication, public trust doctrine, basinwide management, and riparian management.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2011, (Endter-Wada), past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies (as a policy course option and Environmental Policy emphasis), Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Geography (Geographical Analysis and Bioregional Planning emphasis elective option, Physical Geography emphasis elective option), Watershed and Earth Systems

ENVS 5550 (dual listing 6550)

Sustainability: Concepts and Measurement - 3 credits
Examines the challenges and opportunities of sustaining resources and ways of life. Develops a global and long-term perspective on concepts of sustainability, challenges, resources, courses of action to become sustainable, and how to measure progress toward sustainability goals.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2013 (Tainter), past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies (Business emphasis, International emphasis), Geography (Human-Environment emphasis elective option, Geographical Analysis and Bioregional Planning emphasis elective option)

ENVS 5570

Sustainable Living - 3 credits
Theories and techniques for decision-making about environmental impacts of consumer decision-making, and about alternatives for a sustainable future. Incorporates meanings of sustainable living, relationships between lifestyle choices and the environment, and feasible steps toward ecological sustainability.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp ^DE
Syllabus: Spring 2012 (Brain), past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies (as a policy course option, Environmental Policy emphasis, Human Impacts emphasis), Geography (Human-Environment emphasis elective option, Geographical Analysis and Bioregional Planning emphasis)

ENVS 5640 CI (dual listing 6640)

Conflict Management in Natural Resources - 3 credits
Introduction to conflict management techniques for those involved in natural resource management. Also taught as SOC 5640/6640.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: (Daniels) past syllabi
NR Majors requiring this course: Environmental Studies (as a policy course option, Environmental Policy emphasis, Planning and Analysis emphasis)

ENVS 5800

Field Studies in Collaborative Natural Resource Stewardship - 3 credits
Two-week field course introduces students to methods and philosophical approaches incorporated in Tehabi, a summer-long internship program focusing on collaborative stewardship of natural resources. Enrollment limited to students accepted into the Tehabi program.
Semester(s) Taught: Su

ENVS 5810

Internship in Collaborative Natural Resource Stewardship - 3 credits
Mentored internship involving participation in the Tehabi program, which teaches collaborative stewardship of natural resources within a federal, state, or nonprofit agency. Enrollment limited to students accepted into the Tehabi program.
Semester(s) Taught: Su

ENVS 6000 (dual listing 7000)

Theoretical Foundations in Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management - 3 credits
Overview of interdisciplinary theories and frameworks concerning how human societies affect, and are affected by, ecosystem processes at local, regional, and global scales. Focuses on systems theory, social and environmental sustainability, and scientific integration for ecosystem planning, policy, and management.
Semester(s) Taught: F
Syllabus: Fall 2012 (Tainter) past syllabi

ENVS 6010

Applying Human Dimensions Concepts to Natural Resource Management - 3 credits
Review key concepts regarding the human dimensions of natural resources and environment, with applications to land and resource management. Topics include: attitudes and perceptions, behavior-change strategies, user-group conflict, visitor use impacts/capacity, environmental justice and local community impacts. This course will be delivered through Distance Education as an online course.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2012 (Gibson), Past Syllabi

ENVS 6050

Best Research Practices in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences* - 3 credits
Explores best research practices from top scientific articles for planning and carrying out reliable experiments in the natural resources and environmental sciences, conceiving and testing research hypotheses, establishing cause and effect, deducing new knowledge from existing knowledge, and more.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2010 (instructor)

ENVS 6110 (dual listing 4110)

Fisheries and Wildlife Policy and Administration* - 3 credits
Examination of policy issues and administrative approaches in fish and wildlife management, with particular emphasis on nonbiological issues facing wildlife managers and administrators.
Semester(s) Taught: F
Syllabus: (instructor)

ENVS 6130

Policy Aspects of Wildland Recreation - 3 credits
Political, legal, and economic bases for wildland recreation management. Relationship between outdoor recreation and tourism. Lectures concurrent with ENVS 4130. Also includes weekly discussion session focusing on relevant scientific research and policy analyses.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2012 (Burr) past syllabi

ENVS 6150

Conservation Policy for Private Lands - 3 credits
This discussion-based course covers a variety of topics related to policy issues involving the management and conservation of private lands and associated natural resources, and examines social science research methods as applied to policy analysis and development.
Semester(s) Taught: Fall
Syllabus: Fall 2011 (Ma), past syllabi

ENVS 6200

Bioregional Analysis and Planning - 5 credits
Compilation and analysis of data for assessing biophysical and socio-economic features of landscapes, and for evaluating impacts of land-use policies across both landscapes and time. Provides real-world learning experience in working with stakeholders and agency decision-makers.
Semester(s) Taught: F
Syllabus: Fall 2011 (Toth), past syllabi

ENVS 6210

Bioregional Management and Policy - 5 credits
Continuation of ENVS 6200. Assessment of land-use policies across landscapes and time, with an emphasis on evaluating consequences of community growth via the generation and analysis of future development and management alternatives. Prerequisite: ENVS 6200.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2013 (Toth), past syllabi

ENVS 6240

Graduate Internship/Co-op - 1-9® credits
Graduate-level educational experience in internship/cooperative education position approved by department.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su

ENVS 6300 (dual listing 7300)

Social and Environmental Psychology of Natural Resources** - 3 credits
Examines how people respond as individuals to nature and environmental phenomena, drawing on theory and research from social psychology, environmental psychology, and behavior analysis. Emphasizes applications to knowledge, attitude, and behavior change strategies for improving environmental sustainability.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2010 (instructor) past syllabi

ENVS 6320- (dual listing ENVS 7320)

ENVS 6400

Ecological Aspects of Wildland Recreation* - 3 credits
Assessment of current knowledge and knowledge gaps concerning impacts of wildland recreation on wildlife, plants, soil and water resources, and processes. Strategies for coexistence of recreation visitors and nonhuman ecosystem elements.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2011 (Monz), past syllabi

ENVS 6440 (dual listing 4440)

ENVS 6500

Behavioral Aspects of WIldland Recreation - 3 credits
Social and psychological analysis of visitor behavior in outdoor recreation settings. Sources of recreation management problems and practical and theoretical basis for management practices. Lectures concurrent with ENVS 4500. Separate discussion sessions focus on research concerning recreation behavior.
Semester(s) Taught: F
Syllabus: Fall 2011 (Burr), past syllabi

ENVS 6530

Natural Resource Administration** - 2 credits
Organizational structures and processes common in natural resources administration on federal and state levels, and how they impact career development and land management.
Semester(s) Taught: F ^DE
Syllabus: (Frazer), past syllabi

ENVS 6550 (dual listing 5550)

ENVS 6580

Sustainable Nature-Based Tourism - 3 credits
Explores how sustainable nature-based tourism can fit into natural resource management with benefits to individuals, communities, economies, society, and the environment. Includes study of definitions and concepts, ecological and social impacts of nature-based tourism, and planning and management tools.
Semester(s) Taught: Su
Syllabus: Summer 2013 (Wyman)

ENVS 6600

Advanced Natural Resource Interpretation - 3 credits
Planning processes, techniques, and evaluation procedures for using information and education to influence human behavior and increase benefits to visitors in natural settings. Leadership of teams involved in producing interpretive plans and materials.
Semester(s) Taught: F
Syllabus: (instructor) past syllabi

ENVS 6640 (dual listing 5640)

ENVS 6700 (dual listing 7700)

Research Approaches in Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management - 3 credits
Experience conceptualizing and prioritizing research problems involving human societies and ecosystems. Reviews approaches for creating and testing interdisciplinary hypotheses pertaining to human-ecosystem interactions. Explores methods for integrating social and biophysical data.
Semester(s) Taught: Sp
Syllabus: Spring 2013 (Endter-Wada/Romesburg), past syllabi

ENVS 6800 (dual listing 7800)

Environment and Society Departmental Seminar - 1® credit
Graded Pass/Fail only.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp
Syllabus: Fall 2010 (Brunson), past syllabi

ENVS 6810 (dual listing 7810)

Research Techniques in Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management* - 3 credits
Experience using various quantitative and qualitative techniques and tools to collect and analyze data in research projects focused on human-ecosystem interactions. Topics range from survey sampling to use of simulation models and spatial statistics involving Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Semester(s) Taught: F

ENVS 6830 (Dual listing 7830)

Graduate Student Publishing Seminar - 2 credits
Grounds graduate students of the natural resources and environmental sciences in the processes of academic publishing and helps them to start early in their programs to build their resumes of published articles.
Semester(s) Taught: F
Syllabus: Fall 2012 (Romesburg)

ENVS 6840 (dual listing 7840)

Graduate Introductory Seminar for Environment and Society - 1 credit
Each faculty member meets with first-year graduate students in a seminar format to review and discuss in depth the faculty member’s area of academic specialization. Graded Pass/Fail only.
Semester(s) Taught: F
Syllabus: Fall 2011 (Coppock), past syllabi

ENVS 6870

Ecology Seminar - 1® credit
The Ecology Center schedules regular seminars throughout the school year with ecological scientists from other institutions participating. Ecology majors are required to attend a minimum of 10 such lectures. Graded Pass/Fail only. Students should register for fall semester, but attend through spring semester. Also taught as BIOL 6870, PSC 6870, WATS 6870, and WILD 6870.
Semester(s) Taught: F

ENVS 6900

Graduate Speical Topics - 1-6® credits
Offers credit for special assignments, reading, and seminars beyond regularly scheduled courses.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su ^DE
Syllabus: Fall 2013 (Radel) Past Syllabi

ENVS 6910

Directed Study - 1-6® credits
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su ^DE

ENVS 6960

Graduate General Ecology - 4 credits
General concepts, history, and issues in all major areas of the science of ecology including: environmental biophysics; and physiological, behavioral, evolutionary, community, ecosystem, and applied ecology in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Also taught as BIOL 6960, PSC 6960, WATS 6960, and WILD 6960.
Semester(s) Taught: F

ENVS 6970

Thesis Research - 1-12® credits
Graded Pass/Fail only.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su

ENVS 6990

Continuing Graduate Advisement - 1-9® credits
Graded Pass/Fail only.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su

ENVS 7000 (dual listing 6000)

ENVS 7300 (dual listing 6300)

ENVS 7320 (dual listing 6320)

ENVS 7700 (dual listing 6700)

ENVS 7800 (dual listing 6800)

Environment and Society Departmental Seminar - 1® credit
Graded Pass/Fail only.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp

ENVS 7810 (dual listing 6810)

Research Techniques in Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management** - 3 credits
Experience using various quantitative and qualitative techniques and tools to collect and analyze data in research projects focused on human-ecosystem interactions. Topics range from survey sampling to use of simulation models and spatial statistics involving Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Semester(s) Taught: F

ENVS 7830 (Dual listing 7830)

ENVS 7840 (dual listing 6840)

ENVS 7900

Graduate Special Topics - 1-6® credits
Offers credit for special assignments, reading, and seminars beyond regularly scheduled courses.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su
Syllabi: Spring 2013 (Radel)

ENVS 7910

Directed Study - 1-6® credits
Offers credit for special assignments, reading, and seminars beyond regularly scheduled courses.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su

ENVS 7970

Dissertation Research - 1-12® credits
Graded Pass/Fail only.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su

ENVS 7990

Continuing Graduate Advisement - 1-9® credits
Graded Pass/Fail only.
Semester(s) Taught: F,Sp,Su

_______________
®Repeatable for credit. Check with major department for limitations on number of credits that can be counted for graduation.
^DEThis course may be available through Regional Campuses and Distance Education (RCDE), and may be offered through multiple delivery methods. Current RCDE offerings may be viewed at: http://distance.usu.edu/
*Taught 2010-2011
**Taught 2009-2010